HOUSTON – It’s no secret that parking in downtown Houston can come at a premium cost.
Finding a parking spot outside Daikin Park for a Houston Astros game will run you a pretty penny.
Some lots are charging roughly $60-80 per spot, while others are charging up to $174 for a single spot.
“That’s insane. To park at Citi Field with a Mets play, it’s $40, so that’s half the price,” said Christopher Maldonado, a New York Mets fan in town for the series against the Houston Astros.
He paid $65 per ticket for Opening Day at Daikin Park. His ticket was cheaper than most of the lots within a two block radius of the ballpark.
“And that’s opening day,” he said. “I could get a ticket for today, maybe half the price.”
He’s not the only one with sticker shock.
Luis Beattie: “Look, you can even still see the price still there: $73.18.”
Gage Goulding: “$73 you paid?”
Luis Beattie: “Well, I was going to pay. I’m going to go see if I can find something else.”
Where are the most affordable places to park?
The City of Houston owns two parking lots that currently have a flat rate of $30 for events.
- 200 Chartres (80 spaces) - $30 flat fee on event days (metered rate of approximately $1.75 per hour on non-even days)
- 300 Chartres (96 spaces) - $30 flat fee on event days (metered rate of approximately $1.75 per hour on non-even days)
Houston First Corporation also has a few parking garages nearby. For Opening Day and again on Friday, the going rate was $40.
“Houston First operates three garages around the convention center: Avenida North, closest to Daikin Park as well as Avenida Central beneath Discovery Green and Avenida South adjacent to the Hilton Americas,” a spokesperson told KPRC 2. “Our parking rates fluctuate based on events taking place in nearby hotels, the convention center, and sports stadiums and the corresponding demand. That said, we consistently work to maintain a balance between affordability and meeting market demand and are less expensive than nearby lots.”
What about other ways to get downtown?
There’s always METRO, which offers light rail and bus service to the area around the ballpark.
However, you run the risk of getting clogged up in gameday traffic.
Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft seem to be one of the most affordable options.
“It was 30 to get here and then about $30 to get back, so maybe $60, so it was cheaper,” Maldolnado said.
But be weary. Surge pricing can send the cost of those trips through the roof.
